Beet cultivator



11. sum. BEET CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1918.

Patented 1113 1 1919.

hTs Ail-g. 4

R. SERA.

BEET cumvuoa.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15 m8. 1,303,602. Patented May 13, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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BnnT-ouL'rIvAron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May is, 1919.

Application filed March 15, 1918. Serial No. 222,712.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RYU ArsU SERA; residing at Banning, in the coiinty of Riverside and State of California, have invented a new and useful Beet-Cultivator, of which the following is a specification. This invention has relation to the improvement of machines for cultivating and especially for thinning beets, and the objects of the invention are to provide an improved construction and arrangement of.

parts wherein is combined means for simultaneously cutting out consecutive sections of adjacent rows of beets, and means for adj Listing the cutting means for various W1dth of space between rows, and for setting the cutting means at various angles for more efli-ciently accomplishing thepurposes of the invention, and means for maintaining the cutting means in a relatively stationary position to the advancing machine as the cutting stroke is made.

Other objects of the invention are to provide means for shifting the cutting means relatively in a transverse direction to ac commodate the device toirregularity in the rows of beets as the machine advances therealong. I

In devices for thinning beets, as at present constructed, the cutting means are carried continuously forward by the advancing movement of the machine. To avoid the imperfect results of the present devices, this invention comprises an improved means for shifting the cutting means backward rela tive to the machine as a whole, thus producing a relatively stationary position of the cutting means durin a portion of the ad vancing movement 0 the machine. it

The invention further relates to means for relatively raising and lowering the cutting means, as in the case of backing and when the machine is not at work and is being drawn from place to place; and relates to improved means for adjusting the machine for different width between rows, and different space of section that is cut out.

Further obj ects of the invention relate to improvements in the detailed parts and members of the device.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it being un derstood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that any changes, alterations,

and modifications within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrifice any of the advantages of the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of beet thinning machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail view of the movable frame with two of the cutters mounted thereon. Fig. 4 is a fra'gmental detail View of a cutter bar, showing the knurled head for adjustment of the cutter in angular position. 7 Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail view showing the transmission gearing for varying the speed of the cutters relative to the advancing movement of the machine Fig. 6 is a detail view of a cutter detached. Fig. 7 is a fragmental and top plan view of the cutter carrying frame with a cutter mounted therein. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the raising and lowering means for the cutter mechanism.

' Referring to the drawings, the upper transverse frame bar *11, is provided with depending bearing members 12, in which are jo-urnaled the axles 13, on which are mounted the master wheels 14; and extending rear- Wardly from bar 1l,are the Iangularly disposed bars 15', carrying the swivel bearing member 16, in which is mounted the revoluble shaft 17, having a forked end 18, in which is mounted the trailing wheel 19. To facilitate movement of the machine over inequalities of ground, the trailing wheel is yieldably held in engagement therewith by the spring 20, interposed between the swivel bearing member 16, and a ring 21, supported by a pin 22. The rear portion of the machine may thus have a tilting movement relative toother parts thereof to maintain the cutters inoperative position as hereinafter shown.

From opposite ends of bar 11, depend the loosely connected arms 23, to which is pivotally attached the transverse under-frame bar 24, also loosely connected to arms 23 to provide for a lateral movement of the bar relative to the machine. The member 25 is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to a tongue-member (not shown),and is connected to bar 24, by link member 26. Member 25 has fixed thereto the rearwardly extending and divergent arms 27 which are loosely connected to top-frame bar 11. The lower bar 24; is thus adapted to move relatively to the upper frame bar 11 that the cutters may be adjusted relative to the ground, both vertically and laterally as will presently appear. Means for manually shifting the bar 24 laterally relative to the machine as a whole, consist of a swivelly mounted memberas, carried bybar 11, and having its free end engaging with a loop member 29,

fixed to bar 24. Oscillating foot levers 30 are carried by bearing members 31 fixed to frame bars; 15, and are connected by links-32 with actuating member 28, the arrangement beingsuch that the right foot lever may be forced forward by the opera-tors foot to throw the bar 24 relativelyto the right, and

the left foot lever may be manipulated to force the bar 24 to the left. Theoperators 7 seat 33' is supported by resilient members 34,

.35, extending from thetop frame. That the axlemembers 13 may be rotated in one ll-r rection, the'ends thereof are provided with ratchets 36, in engagement with spring dogs 37 carried by the hubs .38 of wheels'14. Thus the rotation of the axle members is continuous and in one direction.

Lower frame members 39, connected by a' transversebar 40, are pivotally connected to the lower frame bar 24. In bearings 41 carried by the members 39, is mounted the rev-oluble shaft 42. The cutter supporting frame 43 is mounted to slide to and fro on members 39, and'is actuated by connecting bars injengagement with cranks 45, on the ends of shaft 42. Thus frame 43 is given a reciprocating movement with each revolution of shaft 42. Bearing members 46, in the extremities of which shaft 42 is revolubly mounted, slidein frame 43, and have mounted therein the hollow shafts 47, which are actuated by connecting gears 48 to rotate. in. unison with shaft 42.

Cranks 49 are journaled in the rear bar 50, of frame 43, and are provided with angular ends 51,. in engagement with correspondingly formed hollow shafts 47, and are thus rotated in unison with, cranks 45, but in an angular axial direction. [On cranks 49 are mounted cutter bar carriers 52, supporting the cutter bars 53, and maintaining the same in'a the master wheels and cranks which actuate the cutters is such that the section of a row of beets cut out by cutter 60 will overlap the row of beets that is left is therefore determined by the space between the cutters, and this space is varied by adjustment of the cutters relative to the cutter head.

'To vary the intervals between the sections of the row of beets that will remain standing, the speed of the cutters relative to the movement ofthe master wheels must be changed. To .providefor this adjustment, the axlemembers 13 have fixed thereto the relatively large gear wheels 63, provided on one sidethereof with-annular rows of gears 64. A shaft 65, journaled in lugs 66, 67, projecting. from member 12, has mounted thereon a slidingtpinion 68 which may be placed in mesh with one of the annular gears 64,011 gear-wheel 63, and thereby drive shaft 65. A fixed bar 69 projecting from member 12, has clamped thereto the adj usting ineinber ,70, in which shaft 65 is rotatively mounted. The adjusting member 70 determines the position of pinion 68, relativ to gears 64. Through connecting gearwheels 71, the shafts 65 actuate counter-shaft 72, which, through sprockets 73, 74, and chain 75, actuates shaft 42. Countershaft 72 is provided with a fixed collar 76. Sprocket 73 is mounted on shaft 72 for independent rotation, and is provided with a clutch member 77. A corresponding clutch member 78 rotates with the shaft 72 and slides thereon. Aspring 79 interposed between a fixed collar 80,'a11d clutch member 78 holds the same normally in engagement with clutch 77% thereby rotating the sprocket 7-3. A lever 81, pivotally connected to fixed collar 80, when forced inward, will throw clutch member 78 in inoperative position.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood. After adjustment has been made for distance between rows of beets, and for width of the cut out sections of rows, the clutch 7 8 isplaced in operative position.

As the machine advances, intermittent sections of adjacent'rows of beet-s are cut out simultaneously. The cutter carrying frame moves relatively toward the rear during the working or cutting stroke of the'cutters, and is in relatively stationary position while the cutters are operative.

-As before stated, the frame members 39 are pivotally connected to bar 24. To raise and lower the frame members, alever 82 is pivotallyconnected to a lug 83, fixed to bar 84, whichis pivotallyconnected to bar 24 at one end, and-is fixedito -fram'e member 43 at the opposite end. A link 85is loosely connected to a lug 86, on bar 11, and pivotally connected to-lever 82,--and the arrangement of the connecting points being such that as the lever is forced downward, the frame members 39 .will be raised, thereby placing the cutters in inoperative position. A notched segmental bar 87, fixed to and depending from the frame bar 15, is adapted to engage with lever 82, and hold the same in any desired position of adjustment.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, the movement of the actuating cranks 4,9, in cooperation with springs 54, tends to move the cutters in an elliptic path in which the vertical movement exceeds the horizontal movement. At the beginning of the vertical downward movement of the cutters, the lugs 88 projecting from members 52, engage with lugs or guides 89, 90, projecting inwardly from frame members 443, and 50, respectively. The cutters are thus retarded in the downward movement until lugs 88 are disengaged atthe limit of horizontal movement, whereupon the downward stroke of the cutters is accelerated by the tensed springs 54. The cutters will therefore strike the ground with greater force, resulting in greater efliciency in cutting out sections of the rows of beets.

What is claimed is:

1. In a. beet thinning machine, a frame,

master wheels supporting the frame, an auxiliary frame pivotally connected to the main frame, a counter shaft supported by the main frame, cooperating gear wheels whereby the counter shaft is driven by the master wheels, a revoluble shaft carried by the auxiliary frame, means whereby the last-named shaft is driven by the counter shaft, a rectangular frame mounted to slide relative to the auxiliary frame, rotary cranks carried by the rectangular frame, means whereby the cranks are operated by the revoluble shaft, hoes actuated by the cranks, and adapted to cut out portions of a row of beets at consecutive intervals, crank arms on the revoluble shaft, and pitmen connecting the crank arms and rectangular frame, whereby the forward motion of the lastnamed frame is retarded relative to the ground during the cutting stroke of the hoes.

2. In a beet thinning machine, the combination with a main frame, of master wheels supporting the main frame, an auxiliary frame pivotally connected to the main frame, a movable frame slidably mounted relative to the auxiliary frame, a revoluble shaft carried by the main frame, gearing whereby said shaft is actuated by the master wheels, a working shaft carried by the slidable frame, means whereby the working shaft is actuated by the counter shaft, diggingmembers carried by the slidable frame, revoluble cranks to actuate the digging members, whereby the digging members are intermittently thrust into the ground and retracted, gear members connecting the revoluble cranks and the working shaft, and crank and pitmen connections between the working shaft and slidable frame, whereby the frame is operated in a relatively backward movement during the working movement of the digging members.

3. In a beet thinnin machine, a main frame, a bar suspended t erefrom and adapted for a limited lateral movement relative to the machine, a loop on the laterally movable bar, an actuating member. pivotally supported on the main frame and engaging with said loop, swing levers mounted on the frame, foot pedals on one end of the swing levers, and connecting bars extending between the ends of the foot levers and the actuating member, whereby a lateral move? ment is imparted to the depending bar upon actuation of the foot levers.

a. In a beet thinning machine, a supporting frame for digging members, digging members adapted to intermittently cut out consecutive sections of rows of beets and leave remaining sections, revoluble crank means to actuate the digging members, spring means connecting the digging mem bers with the supporting frame, whereby the digging members move in eliptical paths of travel in which the vertical movement is relatively greater than the horizontal movement, guides on the supporting frame, and lugs 011 the digging members engaging with the guides whereby the digging members are retarded at the beginning of the downward movement, said downward movement being accelerated by said spring means when released by the retarding means.

5. In a beet thinning machine, cutters adapted to cut intermittent sections of a row of standing plants, revoluble crank means to actuate the cutters, cutter supporting bars mounted on the crank means, said cutters being mounted on the supporting bars, fixed frame members interposed between consecutive cutters, a supporting frame for the cutmembers and the cutter supporting bars, and

guides 011 the supporting frame to retard the movement of the cutters at the beginning of the downward or cutting stroke, said springs acting to accelerate the cutters when released from the guides.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 8th day of March, 1918.

RYUMATSU SER-A.

In presence of Fnnnnruo M. KEENEY, JAMns IV. MASTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

